Mohonasen faces another round of tough cuts

As the Mohonasen Central School District faces yet another difficult fiscal year, the final installment of the community budget forum Wednesday Mar. 7 confirmed a proposed budget increase of 2.278 percent at the calculated tax cap.

Superintendent of schools, Dr. Kathleen Spring, explained that Mohonasen has faced over $7 million in cuts since 2009 and while the proposed budget of $45 million is an increase from the current $42 million budget, Mohonasen is still facing tough cuts that may affect its high standard of teaching.

To make up for this year’s gap in funding, the board is proposing reductions in all areas of study, 23-27 staffing cuts, increases in class sizes, consolidation of bus routes, and reduction of athletic teams and extracurricular programs, but will attempt to preserve the backbones for success and maintain the structure of all schools.

Spring also discussed Governor Andrew Cuomo’s “attack on public education” and how he has given the public a misperception of the public school system by “broad-brush painting public education as being inefficient, uncaring and not advocating for students.”

Mohonasen, she believes, is a “hidden gem” that has continued to show success and growth, even when faced with eliminating the very programs, opportunities and innovative staff members that the school district is known for.

This proposition will raise individual taxes only slightly, on average only $35.50 for a $100,000 home in Rotterdam, but even this may be difficult for homeowners in such tough economic times, especially when a majority of homeowners in the immediate area are retired and struggling as it is.

Spring assured attendee’s that the Board of Education is “doing everything possible to find a balance between the needs of students and what the community can afford,” and they believe that proposing a budget increase at the tax levy cap is the best way to achieve that.

The big question seems to be, after decline in community support over the past three years, whether or not cuts like this have become the “new norm.”

Amidst these cuts, Spring and the rest of the board remains positive that by maintaining programs across the district, the district will continue to show growth and improvement as well as bounce back as soon as economically possible.

“When things get better, we will add back,” Spring said, “there are waves in education and I’m determined to make sure this is a wave that goes back up.”

“The bottom line is we want to work together with everyone in the community to make sure this gem stays in place,” said Spring, “and we need to make sure public education stays intact.”

The budget vote is scheduled for May 15, 2012 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Mohonasen High School, 2072 Curry Road Schenectady, NY 12303.